Slider latch for slide fasteners



April 2o, 1954 2,675,559

W. J. MILLER SLIDER LATCH FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Filed Feb. 2, 1950 far Ma/PRE d. M/LE/P JNVENToR.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 20, 1954 `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE -SLIDER LATCH FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Warren J. Miller, Ventnor, N. J.

Application February 2, 1950, Serial No. 141,931

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to slide fasteners, as used for .closing the fly on trousers and similar articles `of apparel, and in particular to a means of positively closing the fly opening by means of the slide fastener, .and a latch fitted to the slider thereof.

While slide fasteners are used extensively on the y opening on trousers and slacks of various types, vone or .more buttons are generally provided, above the upper end `of the fastener, either inside the trousers, or outside, at the line of the upper edge or belt line of the trousers.

The object of my invention is to provide -a latch, or clip for use in locking the slider of a slide fastener, on the fly of trousers or similar openings.

A further object is to provide a latch to asn sure positive closing of the trouser fly or opening and to assure closing of the fastener, when the ily is closed.

Another object is to provide an attachment for a slide fastener slider which will prevent closing the slit at the upper end of the trousers, without drawing the slider to the Aclosed position of the fastener.

A primary object is to provide a simple, compact latch, which may be attached to the slider of a slide fastener, and will simultaneously clip both sides of the trouser belt, `after the fastener is closed.

The accompanying drawings, ill-ustrative of one embodiment of my invention, together with the description of its construction and the method of operation thereof, Vwill serve to clarify further objects and advantages of my invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of the assembled slide fastener, in the closed position, with the latch attached toone snap button, the snap button attached to the other flap being open.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the slide fastener assembly of Fig. 1, with the slider and latch moved downward to partially open the slide fastener.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section through the snap buttons attached to the fabric and the latch of Fig. l, with both snap vbuttons shown in the lclosed position, taken at 3 3, Fig. l.

Fig. '4 is an enlarged vertical section, similar to Fig. 3, with the latch disconnected from the snap buttons on both sides of Vthe ily.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front elevation of the latch, and slider of Fig. l, showing the method of attaching the latch to the slider.

Fig. 6. is a side elevation of the .latch and slider of Fig. `5.

It will be .understood that the following `description of the .construction and operation :of the .slider .latch for slide fasteners, is intended as explanatory of the invention and not restrictive thereof.

In the drawings, the same reference .numerals designate the ,same parts throughout the various views, except where votherwise indicated.

The slide fastener, as indicated in Figs. l and 2, may .be attached to the opposite facings I0 and II, of the yfly opening of mens trousers .or other articles of apparel.

The fastener proper, consists of a plurality of rows of hooked elements I2 and I3, mounted on individual tapes Ill, each of the tapes Abeing sewn, or otherwise attached to the corresponding facing of the ily.

A slider I5 is slidably mounted .on the rows of elements of the fastener, the upward movement of the slider, drawing the elements on opposite sides into engagement with one another, to rclose the fastener, while the downward movement of the slider separates and lspreads the pairs .of elements, thereby opening the fastener.

A snap button .I-B., comprising two individual elements which grip the fabric between them, may be attached .to the outer surface of one facing of the fly, with a similar snap button il, attached to the inner vfacing of the opposite side of the fly, as indicated in the open position Figs. 1 and .2.

The rear section of each .of the .snap buttons comprises, a relatively flat discl It, of circular, or other suitable rsenteur, .formed integral with a :truste-conical sheet metal section i9, which ts into the similarly formed Afrusta-cenical section 20, of the mating section of the snap button, which is alsol formed integral with a similarly formed flat disc ZI, the fabric being retained between the two flat discs, by the pressure of the angular surface of the outer .frusto-conical section 20, against the similarly for-med inner section I9, the spring action of the .inner section, forcing the discs against one another.

The inner frusto-conical section I9 of vthe snap buttons I6 and Il, may beslotted 2.2., at several points around the circumference, to enhance the flexibility of the segments of the frustocanical vinner section, thus .providing Va tighter grip against the frusta-conical outer section 2.1i, vand increasing .the y.pressure on .the fabric l2S., gripped 'between the two discs.

In order to retain the slider I5 in the upper, 0r closed position, with relation to the fastener, a, latching element 25 may be pivotally attached to the slider, the latching element, being formed of two sets of sheet-metal, substantially circular segmental sections 26 and 2l, formed integral with one another, each of the sections having a substantially circular opening 28 or 29, formed at the center thereof. The spacing between the openings 28 and 29 is substantially the same as that between the snap buttons I6 and I'I, attached to the opposite facings of the y, to enable the outer edge of the walls 30 or 3I, surrounding each of the openings 28 or 29, to engage the outer surface of the frusto-conical section o-f the 'corresponding snap button I6 or I'I, to grip the button.

The latch 25 may be made of sheet metal or other suitable material, a gap 3d, being formed between the walls 30 and 3I around. each of the openings 28 and 29, to enable the walls to flex in passing over the outer diameter of the frustoconical outer section 20, of the snap button, the diameter of each of the openings 28 and 29 being slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the frusto-conical section of the button, to enable the snap button to retain the latch in place, in the closed position.

A tab 35 may be formed integral with the upper end of the body of the latch to enable the operator to move the latch from the snap button, to detach the latch from one or both buttons. An extension of the latch 25, formed at the end opposite the tab 35, may be bent in the form of a loop 36, the loop fitting through a slot 3l formed in the upper end of a link 3S, which flexibly connects the latch to the fastener slider I5.

A pair of slots 39 parallel to the link axis, may be formed at the opposite end of the link 3B, as indicated in Fig. 5, the slots straddling the pivot ears 40, formed integral with, or attached to the outer face of the slider I5. A pair of pivots, or prongs 4I, formed integral with or attached to the outer edges' of the link 38, adjacent the slots 39, may be fitted into openings formed in the slider ears 40, to pivotally supiport the link, a narrow extension of the link 38, formed into a partial loop 42, being located between the pivot support ears, to center the link on the slider.

In operating the unit, the slider may be moved upward, from the open position shown in Fig. 2, to the closed position shown in Fig. l, after which the latch 25 is moved toward the upper snap button I6, the upper opening 28, in the latch, being snapped over the outer circumference of the snap button, to the position shown in Fig. 1, The lower snap button Il, attached to the opposite facing of the fly is then snapped into the lower opening 28, of the latch, the two buttons and the latch assuming the latched position shown in Fig. 3, with the slider held in the closed position until the latch is manually released from the snap buttons by the operator.

The latch may be used with any type of slide fastener, either of the interlocking prong type, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or the coil type in which alternate coils are interlocked to form a slide fastener.

The fastener latch may be used on the ny openings of trousers, slacks, or any other garments on which slide fasteners are normally used, or on any other article in which an opening is closed by a slide fastener. 4

The method of pivotally attaching the latch to the slider may be varied considerably, depending upon the construction of the slider and the detailed construction of the latch proper.

While a link is shown connecting the latch to the slider, the link may be made longer or shorter, or eliminated entirely, the latch being directconnected to the slider, provided the pivoting mechanism used to connect the latch to the slider, will allow sufficient angular movement of the latch with relation to the line of the slide fastener elements and the slider axis, to enable the latch to reach the snap buttons.

The latch proper may be made of sheet material, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, the latch being drawn from one or more pieces of sheet material, or it may be stamped in two or more sections, the sections being welded, brazed or attached to one another by other suitable means.

rlhe latch may also be made of a solid piece of material, the openings being die cast or machined out, depending upon the thickness of the latch, and the relative size and form of the openings.

The snap buttons may be made in two pieces as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, the fabric layer being gripped between the two sections of the button, or a one-piece button, or multiple-piece button may be substituted therefore, the method of attaching it to the fabric and gripping the fabric, depending upon the size and construction of the button, and the thickness and texture of the fabric, with which it is used.

The frusto-conical section of the snap buttons which engage the walls surrounding the openings in the latch, may be altered in contour and size, considerably, provided adequate gripping pressure is maintained between the latch and the snap buttons.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that my present invention is not limited to the specific details described above and shown in the drawings, and that various further modifications are possible in carrying out the features of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a slide fastener fitted to a garment, said slide fastener having two rows of interlocking slide fastener elements, an attachment comprising a slider operatively fitted to the slide fastener elements, a pair of oppositely positioned y facings formed in said garment, said fly facings being located in overlapping relation to one another, with one row of interlocking slide fastener elements attached to each of said fly facings, a link pivotally attached to the slider, a latching element pivotally attached to the end of said link opposite the slider, said latching element having a pair of openings therethrough, a snap button element attached to each of the garment fly facings at the y opening, said latching element openings being operative to releasably retain the snap button elements when said snap button elements are positioned within the respective openings, one of the snap button elements tting through the first opening in the latching element from one face thereof, the opposite snap button element fitting through the second opening in the latching element from the opposite face thereof, said latching element being operative to retain the slider in the closed position relative to the slide fastener elements, said snap button elements being operative to retain the fly facings in the closed position.

2. An attachment for use in combination with a garment having a fly opening therein, comprising a'pair of oppositely positioned overlapping fly facings formed on said garment adjoining said fly opening, one row of interlocking slide fastener elements attached to each of said ily acings, a slide fastener slider operative to interlock and disengage the slide fastener elements slidably fitted to the slide fastener elements, a link pivotally connected to the slider, a latch pivotally attached to the link opposite the slider, said latch having a pair of openings therethrough, a snap button attached to one of the garment ily facings in alignment with one latch opening, directed toward one side of the latch, a second snap button attached to the opposite garment fly facing in alignment with the second latch opening, the second snap button being directed toward the opposite side of the latch, said latch openings being operative to releasably retain the snap buttons When said snap buttons are positioned within the respective latch openings, each of said snap buttons having a frusto-conical head at the side opposite the corresponding fly facing, the frustoconical head of one of said snap buttons fitting through the ilrst latch opening, the frusto-conical head of the second snap button fitting through the second latch opening, and manual gripping means integral with the end of said latch opposite the pivoted link connection, said latch being f' operative to retain the slider in the closed position relative to the slide fastener elements, the snap buttons being operative to retain the ily facings in the closed position.

3. An attachment for use in combination with a garment having a fly opening therein, comprising a pair of overlapping oppositely positioned fly facings formed on said garment adjoining said ily opening, each of said ily facings having a roW of interlocking slide fastener elements attached thereto, a slide fastener slider operative to open and interlock the slide fastener elements slidably fitted to the slide fastener elements, a link pivotally attached to the slider, a latch pivotally attached to the slider link opposite the slider, said latch having a pair of aligned openings therethrough, a snap button attached to one of the garment ily facings in alignment with one latch opening. a second snap button attached to the opposite garment ily facing in alignment with the second latch opening, said latch openings being operative to releasably retain the snap buttons, when said snap buttons are positioned Within the respective latch openings, an open frustoconical spring section integral with each of said snap buttons at the side opposite the corresponding garment fly facing, said snap button frustoconical spring sections being in substantial alignment with the latch openings, the frusto-conical spring section of one of said snap buttons fitting through the first latch opening, from one side of the latch, the frusto-conical spring section of the second snap button tting through the second latch opening from the opposite side of the latch, and a gripping tab integral with one end of the latch operative to disengage the latch from the snap button frusto-conical spring sections, said latch being operative to retain the slider in the closed position relative to the slide fastener elements.

4. An attachment for use in combination with a pair of trousers having a fly opening therein, comprising a pair of overlapping oppositely positicned fly facings formed in the trousers adjoining said ily opening, each of said ily facings having a row of interlocking slide fastener elements attached thereto, a slider operative to open and interlock the slide fastener elements slidably iltted to the slide fastener elements, said slider having a pair of pivot support ears integral therewith, a link having a pair of pivot prongs integral therewith pivotally attached to the slider pivot support ears, a latch pivotally attached to the slider link opposite the pivot prongs, a snap button attached to one of the trouser ily facings, in alignment with one latch opening, directed toward one side of the latch, a second snap button attached to the opposite trouser ily facing, in alignment with second latch opening, the second snap button being directed toward the opposite side of the latch, said latch openings being operative to releasably retain the snap buttons when said snap buttons are positioned within the respective latch openings, each of said snap buttons having a frusto-conical head integral therewith at the side opposite the corresponding ily facing, said snap button frusto-conical heads being in substantial alignment with the latch openings, the frusto-conical head of one of said snap buttons iitting through the ilrst latch opening, the frusto-conical head of the second snap button iltting through the second latch opening, and gripping means integral with the latch operative to disengage the latch from the snap button frustoconical heads, said latch being operative to retain the slider in the closed position relative to the slide fastener elements.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,655,895 Davis Jan. 10, 1928 1,671,539 McLimans May 29, 1928 2,087,045 Roberts et al. July 13, 1937 2,111,924 Etten Mar. 22, 1938 2,158,398 Bryant May 16, 1939 2,223,347 Axthelm Dec. 3, 194s FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 400,015 Great Britain 1935 

